Hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? Need a little design inspo?
Christina Smith of Hamilton Rae Interior Designs welcomes us home and gives her best, most budget-friendly tips for dressing up your space for the holidays.
1. Collect Your Neutral Staples
Invest in a few staple pieces that are classically designed, neutral, and made to last. White linens and dishes can be incredibly versatile and chic, and can serve as the foundation for your table settings year round.
“I have been collecting Lennox Butler’s Pantry for about fifteen years,” Smith reveals. “There’s a lot of good memories in those dishes. Some were purchased brand new from Dillard’s, some were gifts from my mama and daddy, and some were lucky finds at garage and estate sales.”
2. Layers, Layers, Layers
“When decorating your home, think through how you will add (or take away) layers for the changing of seasons,” Christina advises. “For instance, on my outdoor sofa, the black and white buffalo check and stripe patterned pillows are used year round. I simply add a couple of accent pillows and throws to suit each season and instantly, it looks as if I redecorated the entire patio.
As for my table, each season I throw a cute salad or dessert plate in the mix, a seasonal serving bowl and natural seasonal decor [like pumpkins for fall] and, voila!”
3. Go for Greenery
“I like to use a lot of greenery in everything that I do, because nothing layers as beautifully as plants. I keep most of my pots season-neutral, then throw in a seasonal decoration or two to bring the theme together.”
4. Bargains Are Blessings
“I get a lot of compliments on my chargers (the decorative “plate” that sits under the dinner plate). Mine are a wood patterned plastic from Big Lots, and they have worked perfectly for the three years I have had them. And I personally never spend a lot on glassware, because I live in a house of elephants! If it can’t withstand the bottom of the sink or the dishwasher, it wouldn’t last a day here. But I do love stemmed glasses, so I get mine from HomeGoods, Big Lots, or Walmart.”